Device for lowering coffins into graves



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-.-Sheet 1.

W. KEISLING.

DEVICE FOR LOWBRING GOFFINS-INTO GRAVES.

Patented Nov. 29,1881.

INVEN'I'OR ZZMM /Le.

WITNESSES fi M\ ATTORNEY (No Model.)' 2 She ets-Sheet 2.

W. .KEISLING.

DEVICE FOR LOWERING UOFFINS INTO GRAVES No. 250,259. Patented Nov. 29,1881.

N. PETERS. pmwumo m nm. Washingtan. o. c.

-. NITE STATES PATENT OFFIC WILLARD KEISLING, OF BRQWNSTOWN, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,259, dated November 29, 1881. Application filed October 10, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLARD KEISLING, a eitizenoftheUnited States,residingatBrownstown, in the county of Fayette and State of 5 Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Device for Lowering (Joffins into Graves, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to a device for lowerin g coffins; and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a coffin-lowerin g device wherebycoffins may be safely and expeditiously lowered into a grave without the use of ropes, straps, and other ordinary appliances; second, to provide an arrangement on which the coffin may be placed and a means for moving it, whereby the coffin may be conveyed over and above the grave in position to be caught by the lowering mechanism; third, to furnish a hook or hooks which shall engage with the handle or handles on the coflin during the operation of lowering and become automatically disengaged therefrom when the operation is completed and,fourth, to provide an apparatus so constructed and arranged thatit is adjustable, and may be readily taken apart and occupy a smallspace for moving when not in use. These objects 1 attain by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device embodying my invention, shown in position over a grave with a coffin thereon. Fig. 2 is a side elevation; Fig. 3, a plan view of the same; and Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the automatic disengaging hooks.

The frame of the device consists of the end pieces, A and A, and side pieces, B and B, one end of said side pieces having tenons a a, which are secured in end piece A by pins 1) b, the other end sliding through openings in end piece A, which may be secured at any point thereon by means of the set-screw S, thus providing for coffins of different lengths.

U and G are racks, which work through the yokes d and e on end pieces, A and A, and are supplied at the bottom with hooks fandf. Gearing with the racks (J O are pinions l) D, secured on one end of sleeves c c, which are journaled in the end pieces, A and A, and provided at their other end with a shoulder or 0 flange, by which arrangement they are firmly held in their bearing in said pieces A and A, yet free to turn therein.

imparted to the sh aft E by crank F, and at the same timepermits the end pieces, A and A, and pinions D D to be moved along its length, or the shaft to be removed entirely.

Each of the end pieces, A and A, are provided with a slot, J, on each side of which are secured pieces M M, forming a bearing for a sliding head, N, which is connected to arockerarm, H, bya connecting-bar, I, and studs l and m. The rocker-arm H is secured to a sleeve, '5, journaled in a bearing, R, secured to end piece, A or A, said sleeve being similar to the:one, c, to which pinion D is secured, and having a feather or key, which fits in groove 1', extending the entire length of a shaft, P, which is provided at its end with a hand-lever, G.

O O are plates secured to the sliding heads NN, on which the coffin to be lowered is placed.

L is a pawl-lever, having a projection, 19, which engages with pinion D and holds itfrom turning.

The operation is as follows: The device havin g been adjusted to the proper length and placed into position over the grave, the coffin is placed on the plates 0 O, as shown in Fig. 1. The time having arrived for depositing the coffin in the grave, the operator, by means of the hand-lever G and. connections, draws the coffin over the grave until the handles N on the ends of the cofiin arrive over the hooksfon the ends of racks C. By turning the crank F the racks O are drawn up until the hooks f, catching in the handles a, lift the coffin from the plates 0, which are now returned to their original position by the handle-lever Gr, as shown in Fig. 3, and the coffin lowered into the grave by turning the crank F. The coffin having reached the bottom, the racks are lowered until the hooksfare disengaged from the handles it and the point f lowered. The pointf of hooks f striking the bottom of the grave, the hooks f are closed, as shown at y in Fig. 4, and thus permitted to be drawn up withoutengaging with the handles it. As the hooks are further drawn the part f comes into contact with the lower part of the end pieces, A or A, and reopens the hooks and holds them until again lowered, as shown at x in Fig 4:. It is evident that these hooks may be made to antomatically disengage themselves in several other ways, either by having a spring which would close the hook upon being lowered beyond the handles, or by having the weight sufficient to close the hook. It being opened in the manner described, I do not therefore wish to be confined to the particular described way of doing it.

It is also obvious that the grooves h and 7 instead of beingin shaftsP and E, may be made in sleeves c and z, and the shaft fitted with a feather or made square, and the sleeveshaving square holes.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In'an apparatus for lowering coffins into graves, the combination, with devices for placing the coffin over the grave, of mechanism for lowering the coffin, substantially as specified.

2. In a coffin-lowering device, the combination, with vertical racks and suitable operative mechanism, of a hook or hooks adapted to hold the coffin while being lowered and becomeautomatically disen gaged therefrom when said operation is completed, substantially as set forth.

3. In a coffin-lowerin g device, the combination of the racks O O, shaft E, having crank I the sleeves 0 c, and pinion D, substant ally as described.

4. In a coffin-lowering device, the rack U and hooks f, in combination with pinion D,

substantially as described and shown.

5. In a coffin-lowerin g device, the arm H, secured to'sleeve i, journaled in bearing R, attached to frame A, substantially as described and shown.

6. In a comm-lowering device, the sleeves c and i, featheredon shafts E and P, whereby the longitudinal adjustment of the frame is secured, substantially as described and set forth.

7. The hand-lever G and arm H, in combination with the connection I and sliding head N, having plates 0, snbstantiall y as described and shown.

8. The sliding head N, having plates 0, in combination with and operated by lever G,

substantially as described and shown, and for the purpose set forth.

9. The racks G, hooksf, pinions D, sleeves c, and shaft E, in combination with crank f, substantially as described and shown.

10. The plates 0 O, sliding heads N, connections I, arm H, sleeves i, and shaft P, in combination with hand-lever G, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

11. The racks 0, having hooksf, pinionsD, shaft E, "and crank F, in combination with plates 0, sliding heads N, connection I, arm H, shaft P, and lever G, substantially as described and shown, and for the purpose set forth.

12. A coffin-lowering device in which the lowering is done by a rack and pinion, made adjustable for coffins of different length, substantially as described and shown.

WILLARD KEISLING.

Witnesses:

WM. J. PETER, J. N. McOoRD. 

